AMHERST — A winter coat drive and campaign to make sure all children in the public schools have warm clothing for the coldest months is underway.
The collection, which has taken place annually for about 20 years, is organized and supported by the Parent-Guardian Organizations at the elementary schools, with the Amherst Regional Public Schools Family Center being a partner.
This year, though, the drive has changed a bit, said Marta Guevara, director of student and family engagement. Due to the pandemic and the need to stay distant, Guevara said personnel at the Family Center reached out to about 150 families first to assess the need, then put out a general notice and created a spreadsheet to collect specific items.
That spreadsheet can be viewed at signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4BAAAB283-arps.
“We would prefer new coats, but will take warm, used ones in ready to wear condition,” Guevara said.
About 80 winter coats, along with snow boots and waterproof gloves and mittens, are still needed.
Families can contact Mildred Martinez at the Family Center at MartinezM2@arps.org or 362-1871 if they remain in need of winter clothes.
The PGOs are also aiming to bring in $2,000 to buy any needed winter gear that is not donated. Donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/coats2020 or by sending a gift card, or a check made payable to ARPS PGO, to: ARPS Winter Coat Drive, c/o Tracy Zafian, 51 Blue Hills Road, Amherst, 01002.
The Amherst Woman’s Club is holding a holiday concert Sunday at 3 p.m. via Zoom.
Orchestrated by Lois Smith, the virtual concert is titled “Musical Memories for the Seasons with French Horn, Violin, and Voices.”
A link will be sent to club members, while the public will be able to view a concert recording at amherstwomansclub.org
A strategic planning process has led to the renaming of the town’s Leisure Services and Supplemental Education department.
The LSSE Commission recently announced that, based on community feedback, the department will be known as Amherst Recreation.
The name change will come with updates to its website this fall, with a registration system upgrade in January.
Amherst had used the LSSE designation since June 30, 1982, following Town Meeting action that combined the town’s Recreation Department with the Continuing Education program at the public schools.
Opportunities to interact with Town Manager Paul Bockelman will take place online throughout the month of December.
On Dec. 10 at noon, a community chat will be held with Department of Public Works representatives that can be viewed at https://bit.ly/AmherstChat.
The following day, at 8 a.m., Bockelman is joined at a Cuppa Joe with Paul by Amherst business leaders. That meeting is at https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/93952241687.
Then, on Dec. 17 at noon, a community chat will feature the Amherst Staff Equity Team. Participants can find that at https://bit.ly/AmherstChat.
People are encouraged by Amherst officials to sign up for notifications about snow and winter weather emergencies, which impact on-street parking in downtown Amherst.
Go to http://amherstma.gov/prepare or text the words “Join Parking” to 30890.
For more information, send email to Communications Manager Brianna Sunryd at sunrydb@amherstma.gov.